Method of assemblying padded armrest

ABSTRACT

A resilient padded arm rest is formed on a chair arm by molding a bendable shape-retaining metal channel in the lower portion of a resilient plastic body with an integral plastic coating over the bottom of the channel and the side portions of the channel, the channel being placed over the arm and the side portions being bent inwardly to compress the plastic against the arm top and plastic on the side portions against the arm bottom for anchoring the cushion pad in place.

0 United States Patent 1151 3,634,925 Van Loo 5] Jan. 18, 1972 [54]METHOD OF ASSEMBLYING PADDED 2,279,865 4/1942 Ellinwood ..29/150 uxARMREST 2,567,565 9/1951 Keeler et al.. ..29/509 UX 2,633,186 3/1953Jeckell ..297/227 [72] Invent Grand 3,393,933 7/1968 Cornelius..248/346.1 x [73] Assignee: American Seating Company, Grand Rapids,Mich FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 Filed: Dec. 5 1969 955,3224/1964 Great Britain i l 2 l PP 882,592 Primary ExaminerCharlie T. MoonAttorneyDawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus [52] [1.8. CI ..29/458, 29/509,29/515,

248/345.l, 297/227, 297 411 1 1 ABSTRACT ll- Cl- A resilient padded amrest is formed on a chair arm m|d Field 0f Search ..29/509, J15, 458,150, g a bendable shape retaining metal channel in the lower p 297/411248/3451 346'l tion of a resilient plastic body with an integral plasticcoating 56 R f Ced over the bottom of the channel and the side portionsof the l e erences 1 channel, the channel being placed over the arm andthe side UNITED STATES PATENTS portions being bent inwardly to compressthe plastic against the arm top and plastic on the side portions againstthe arm 1 l l Pedroll bottom for anchoring the cushion pad in place1,901,377 3/1933 Roe ....248/346.l 2,070,424 2/1937 Duncan ..29/509 UX 2Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I II l/lag PATENTEDJMH 8 1372 Viitftffl! I I II /r I I I p AZZZZZQYXZZZ I. "VENTOR Wilhom R. Van Loo BY fizllbwATTORNEYS 1 METHOD OF ASSEMBLYING PADDED ARMREST BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYThe normal metal arm of a chair or the like requires a cushion or paddedarm rest and a problem is presented in securing an arm rest thereto soas to retain the resilient cushioning effect of the arm rest. Attachmentof the pad by screws, rivets, bands, cement, and other means isunsatisfactory for many reasons, and if a special configuration isrequired for the metal arm in order to retain the arm rest, thisinvolves expense, and difficulty is presented later in providing areplacement rest.

I have discovered that it is possible to provide a pad which will havean uncompressed resilient top cushion while at the same time beingquickly and inexpensively anchored to a chair arm which need have nospecial surface, lugs, or other attachment means. By molding orotherwise embedding in the bottom of the resilient plastic body a metalchannel which is malleable and may be bent to provide a set so that theplastic enclosing the channel and the sides will be locked against thetop and bottom surfaces of the arm, a firm anchor is provided while atthe same time providing an uncompressed top cushion portion.

DRAWING In the accompanying drawing,

FIG. I is a three-quarter front perspective view of a typical metalstadium chair shown with plastic seat and back panels and with paddedarm rests attached to the metal arms;

FIG. 2, a perspective view of the arm rest prior to its attachment tothe metal arm;

FIG. 3, a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of a metalstandard showing the padded arm rest attached to the metal arm;

FIG. 4, a vertical sectional view of the arm rest, the section beingtaken as indicated at line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5, a vertical sectional view, the section being taken as indicatedat line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6, a top plan view of the arm rest shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7, a side view of the arm rest shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the illustration given, designates a stadiumchair having metal standards 11 with arms 12 to which are attachedpadded arm rests l3.

The padded arm rests 13 may be formed in any suitable manner so as toprovide a resilient plastic body in which a channel 14 is embedded inthe lower portion of the plastic body. I prefer to place the metalchannel II in a mold and fill the mold with plastic foam 15, such aspolyurethane, vinyl, or other suitable material similar to spongerubber. The polyurethane foam forms a hardened outer surface or skin 16which thus provides a finished surface and need not be covered by anupholstering material. Similarly, other plastic materials. such asvinyl, sponge rubber, and composition materials, may be formed toproduce the resilient cushion body above the channel and a skinthereover.

The padded arm rest 13 may be attached to the metal arm 12 of thestandard 11 by placing it over the upper surface 17 of the arm 12 andbending the two side portions 18 and I9 around the outer edges 20 of themetal arm 12 until they fit snugly against the bottom side 21 of thearm, as at 22 and 23 shown best in FIG. 5. By drawing the side portions18 and I9 inwardly in the clinching operation, the resilient integralcoating of plastic on the bottom side of the channel is compressedagainst the top surface of the arm 12 while the plastic on the innerside of the channel sides 18 and 19 is compressed against bottomportions of the arm 12.

The undersurfaces 24 of the foam skin, as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5,are pressed tightly against the outer surfaces of the arm at 17, 20 and21, thus providing a grip or hold which prevents the arm rest from beingpulled off of the arm The process steps described make the use ofscrews, rivets, ee-

ment, bands, or other fastening devices unnecessary.

While in the foregoing specification I have set out specific structuresand steps in considerable detail for the purpose of illustratingembodiments of the invention, it will be understood that such detailsmay be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

Iclaim:

1. In a process for cushioning a structural arm, the steps of molding aresilient plastic cushion body with a metal channel embedded in thelower portion of the body providing an integral plastic coating over thebottom of the channel and over the depending spaced side portions of thechannel, placing the plastic coated channel over said arm, and clinchingchannel side portions inwardly in spaced-apart relation below said armto compress the plastic against said arm top and the plastic on saidside portions against the arm bottom, said metal channel sides beingdeformable to maintain their set, with the edges of the encased sidesbelow the edges of the arm, after clinching to hold the compression ofsaid plastic against said arm but without compressing the cushion bodyabove said channel,

2. The process of claim 1 in which said plastic is polyurethane havingan outer surface skin.

1. In a process for cushioning a structural arm, the steps of molding aresilient plastic cushion body with a metal channel embedded in thelower portion of the body providing an integral plastic coating over thebottom of the channel and over the depending spaced side portions of thechannel, placing the plastic coated channel over said arm, and clinchingchannel side portions inwardly in spaced-apart relation below said armto compress the plastic against said arm top and the plastic on saidside portions against the arm bottom, said metal channel sides beingdeformable to maintain their set, with the edges of the encased sidesbelow the edges of the arm, after clinching to hold the compression ofsaid plastic against said arm but without compressing the cushion bodyabove said channel.
 2. The process of claim 1 in which said plastic ispolyurethane having an outer surface skin.